Prince William and Kate Middleton have been open about parenthood since the birth of their firstborn, Prince George.
After welcoming their first son in July 2013, the pair — who tied the knot in 2011 — became parents two times over with the birth of Princess Charlotte, whom they welcomed in May 2015. They rounded out their family with the birth of their younger son, Prince Louis, whom they welcomed in April 2018.
And just because they’re royals, that doesn’t mean that William and Kate don’t have their fair share of trials and tribulations like everyday parents, which they have spoken about through the years.
Keep reading for all of William and Kate’s best parenting quotes:
What have Prince William and Kate Middleton said about being parents?Becoming a mother
At the launch of a series of Best Beginnings educational films, Kate opened up about the experience of becoming a mother.
“Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother,” she said. “It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love and worry, all mixed together. Your fundamental identity changes overnight. You go from thinking of yourself as primarily an individual, to suddenly being a mother, first and foremost.”
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Feeling feelings
Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel on Oct. 12, 2018 in Windsor, England.Photo by Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images
In an essay penned for Huffington Post in 2016, Kate wrote about raising George and Charlotte to be open about their feelings.
“We hope to encourage George and Charlotte to speak about their feelings, and to give them the tools and sensitivity to be supportive peers to their friends as they get older,” she wrote at the time. “We know there is no shame in a young child struggling with their emotions or suffering from a mental illness.”
Rolling with the changes
That same year, William got candid about how becoming a father had changed him during an interview on Talk Vietnam.
“It’s been quite a change for me personally. I’m very lucky in the support I have from Catherine, she’s an amazing mother and a fantastic wife. I’ve struggled at times,” William admitted. “The alteration from being a single, independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing.”
He added: “Having a daughter is a very different dynamic. So I’m learning … [George is] a right little rascal sometimes. He keeps me on my toes, but he’s a sweet boy.”
Core values
During a visit to Mitchell Brook Primary School in 2017, Kate recalled the values her parents instilled in her as a child, and how she wanted to instill those same values in her children.
“My parents taught me about the importance of qualities like kindness, respect and honesty, and I realize how central values like these have been to me throughout my life,” she said at the time. “That is why William and I want to teach our little children, George and Charlotte, just how important these things are as they grow up. In my view it is just as important as excelling at math or sport.”
It’s a tough job
Kate explained how hard it is to be a parent during an appearance at the Anna Freud Centre’s Early Years Parenting Unit in 2017.
“Parenting is tough. And with the history and all the things and the experiences you’ve all witnessed, to do that on top of your own anxieties, and the lack of support you also received as mothers,” she said. “I find it extraordinary how you’ve managed actually. So really well done.”
Being open
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Buckingham Palace. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/prince-william-duke-of-cambridge-catherine-duchess-of-news-photo/1155017779
William reiterated during an interview with CALMzine in 2017 that he and his wife were “clear” that they wanted both George and Charlotte to “grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings.”
“Over the past year we have visited a number of schools together where we have been amazed listening to children talk about some quite difficult subjects in a clear and emotionally articulate way, something most adults would struggle with,” he added.
Royal pizza party
In 2018, Kate offered insight into the family’s daily life at home, including the activity George and Charlotte love to partake in.
“I’ve done that with George and Charlotte – making pizza dough,” she told Hello! Magazine. “They love it because they can get their hands messy.”
Uncle William
After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first child, son Archie, William sent a cheeky message to his brother about parenting.
“I’m very pleased and glad to welcome my brother to the sleep deprivation society that is parenting!” he said at the time.
Kids in the kitchen
In a 2019 BBC special, Kate told former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry that she loves cooking with her kids.
“I really enjoy it,” she said. “Actually, one of the last things we cooked together was your pizza dough. We made pizzas with your pizza dough recipe. … They loved it. Absolutely loved it.”
Practice makes perfect
During a 2020 appearance on the “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” podcast, Kate revealed that she and William had practiced swaddling and using a car seat with a baby doll before the birth of George.
“We were like, ‘What do we do [with the baby] in a swaddle? How’s this supposed to work?’ We’d even tried to practice with … a little doll at home, but you know, it just never works out the way you planned it, so it was quite hard to do that on the world’s stage,” she said. “But no, [William] did a very good job.”
Dinner time
Dinner at William and Kate’s residence can go one of two ways, he said in 2020.
“If the parents put on something that the children love, dinnertime goes very well,” he quipped. “But if you put something on the table they don’t want to do, that’s another ball game.”
Happy holidays
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis accompanied by their parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton.Photo by Jonathan Brady – Pool/Getty Images
After admitting that he had never heard of Elf on the Shelf during an interview on Radio Marsden in 2021, William recalled how the holidays have changed since becoming a parent.
“Christmas is a new dynamic when you have children,” he said. “Suddenly it’s a whole different ballgame of noise and excitement.”
Family first
Months after Kate was diagnosed with cancer, William told reporters that their three children were doing as well as they could be in 2024.
“All doing well, thank you,” he said. “Yes, we’re doing well.”
Band of siblings
William confirmed during an outing in 2025 that George plays guitar, Charlotte plays piano, and Louis plays the drums.
“I make sure my children learn music because I love music, and it’s crucial, really important,” William said.
Related: Prince William’s Charming Stance on ‘Nuts in Brownies’ Divides the World
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pop Culture section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.